LIBERIA: Opposition Tenderized

President William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman owns a steak tenderizer (imported from Manhattan's R. H. Macy) and a political machine (modeled on Manhattan's Tammany Hall). Both function smoothly. During his eight years of office, President Tubman has extended the vote to Liberia's women and the hinterland tribesmen, but he also got Liberia's constitution amended to permit the President to serve an unlimited number of four-year terms. Tubman's True Whig Party, representing the descendants of the 15,000 freed U.S. slaves who first settled the nation, has ruled over Liberia almost without interruption since 1878.

This year, as election time approached, a fusion...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!